Justice News

Leader Of Drug Gang That Operated In The Lackawanna Housing Project Sentenced

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Jeffrey Graham, 32 of Lackawanna, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 280 grams or more of crack cocaine, was sentenced to 151 months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. Felicetta, who handled the case, stated that between early 2014 and December 5, 2014, Graham conspired with several co-defendants to purchase and sell various amounts of crack cocaine from and to one another and to distribute the crack cocaine to various customers. Many of the transactions occurred at or within 1,000 feet of the Gates Housing Projects in Lackawanna, NY owned by the Lackawanna Municipal Housing Authority. Graham maintained a premises to distribute crack cocaine in the housing projects.

In addition, on November 28, 2014, the defendant obtained 149 grams of crack cocaine, which was discovered later that day by Buffalo Police during a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Graham was a passenger.

A total of 18 defendants were charged in this case, 11 have been convicted.

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Michel, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Street’s Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin P. Lyons, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division.